We build across the Westside, Central LA, the Valley, the San Gabriel Valley, and the South Bay — and one thing surprises almost every homeowner: the city right next door can have a completely different permitting process, timeline, and rulebook. Here's a real comparison of what to expect, city by city, as of 2026.
City of Los Angeles (LADBS)
Most residential permits are issued within about two weeks of a complete application. If a remodel doesn't involve structural changes or an addition, it's sometimes possible to get a permit the same day without filed building plans. Any project touching structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems needs a permit from the LA Department of Building and Safety.
Santa Monica
Plan review generally takes 25–30 days depending on project type — longer than the City of LA for comparable work. Santa Monica is also rolling out a self-certification pilot program allowing architects to obtain permits in as little as one day; it started with commercial projects in 2026, with a later phase expected to extend to single-unit dwellings and additions. Until that phase lands, expect the standard timeline for most home remodels.
Beverly Hills
ADUs must be approved ministerially under state law — no discretionary review or public hearing — typically within about 60 days of a complete application. Beverly Hills does apply its own local detached-ADU size cap (650 sq ft, versus the state default of 1,200 sq ft, though this can be exceeded under certain conditions), and non-ADU construction generally goes through a more involved architectural review process than a typical LA city remodel.
West Hollywood
WeHo is its own independent city with its own Community Development Department — it does not share LADBS's process at all. It has a design-matching rule and a 6-foot building separation requirement that affect ADU and addition design, and many WeHo lots sit on sloped terrain, which can trigger a geotechnical evaluation before plan review even begins.
Pasadena, Culver City & Other Service-Area Cities
Pasadena, Culver City, and the other independent cities in our service area each have their own planning department, fee schedule, and review timeline, layered on top of the same state ADU and building code baseline. Rather than guess at a specific city's current timeline here, we pull the actual current requirements for your address before giving you a schedule — city permitting rules and pilot programs like Santa Monica's change often enough that a stale number does you no favors.
Why This Matters When You're Comparing Quotes
A contractor quoting a fast timeline without knowing which city your project is actually in is either guessing or hasn't done this before in that jurisdiction. We manage permitting in all of these cities regularly, so your estimate reflects your actual city's process, not a generic average.
Contact us or call (310) 757-3033 and tell us your city — we'll tell you exactly what to expect before you sign anything.
Related reading: the LA permit process · ADU cost guide · coastal zone remodeling guide